[Oz-gifted] Encouraging active participation

[Keith McGuinness]

Deidree McMaster wrote:
> What did John Holt say in 'Why Children Fail'?  Isn't it something to 
> do with the fact that schools still insist on kids getting things 
> 'right' rather than exploration and play?

Why do some people generalise? About schools, subjects and 
teachers? 8-)

In mathematics, and to a large extent science, *answers* ARE 
right or wrong. (This may not be the case with *methods*.) It is 
not sensible to pretend otherwise. In my experience, however, 
good teachers still encourage exploration in these subjects.

The extent to which "right" and "wrong" apply to the arts, I 
leave others to debate! "Better" and "worse", however, still 
apply. But, again, good teachers encourage exploration and 
development.

By the way, John Holt's book was written in 1964, when I was in 
primary school. Many things have changed a fair bit since then...

Keith McGuinness